Loyalty E-Book

Christopher Wilkins

• Herausgeber: Spines
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

Loyalty is about four friends trying their best to establish honest futures for themselves
And their families while leaving behind their lives on the street. They don't want to be
Criminals forever, but unfortunately, you can't leave the streets when you want. The
Streets decide when and how you leave. Between the enemies they've created and their own personal issues, every day is a chess match through minefields. In the life of the streets.
The past will always come back to haunt you.

Leseprobe

Loyalty

Loyalty

Chris Wilkins & Will Fields

All rights reserved

Copyright © 2024 by Chris Wilkins & Will Fields

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

—

Published by -Spines

ISBN: 979-8-89383-544-1

Loyalty

All Feathers, No Cotton

Chris Wilkins

Gil Williams

Episode 101

“The strength of a family, like the strength of an army, is in its loyalty to each other.” - Anon

EXT. STREET - MIAMI GARDENS, FL - EVENING

A sticky, south Florida sun sets on an otherwise uneventful evening in this working class ward 10 miles removed from the glitz and beauty of South Beach.

In the middle of the block sits a well maintained, single story family home. Manicured front lawn. Late model SUV parked under a car port in the driveway.

INT. HOUSE - EVENING

Inside, an attractive woman, RACHEL JOHNSON (Af-Am, 40s), sits at her dining room table writing a card. In front of her on the table is an unfolded letter next to a stuffed animal.

The home is tastefully furnished. Walls filled with art work, family pictures & religious iconography. As she writes, we settle on a PICTURE of her and a cute little boy.

RACHEL (V.O.)

Dear Andre,

From the first time I held you, I knew you were going to be special. I realize this past year hasn’t been easy for you, but through it all you’ve managed to grow into a strong, beautiful young man.

Enjoy your 24th year, take advantage of all that life has to offer, work hard, dream big, and remember to make good choices. They will define your life. You can start with cleaning your room & coming back to church. :) Love, Mom

As she goes to put the card in its envelope, a SILENCED GUN is raised to her head. A MASKED GUNMAN in all black whispers his final goodbye.

MASKED GUNMAN

I’m sorry.

Then PULLS THE TRIGGER. Rachel’s lifeless body slumps forward. A dark stream of crimson starts to serpentine across the table, quickly covering the letter, card, and teddy bear.

INT. APARTMENT - EVENING - SAME TIME

ANDRE (24, aka DRE or BOOKS) sits on a bed in a modest studio apartment getting dressed. Though it’s been a few years since his high school football days, he’s still game fit.

A cute Middle Eastern girl, NAZ (20s), lies on the bed next to him holding a vape pen in post coital bliss. Takes a huge hit.

NAZ

Damn Dre, didn’t your mom ever teach you it was rude to hit and run?

She exhales, slightly annoyed. Then reaches for her phone.

NAZ (CONT’D)

At least let me Snapchat that fine ass body. Make all my girls jealous.

DRE

Sorry babe, gotta bounce.

Grabs his keys & phone off the table. Pulls up his pants. Gives her a quick kiss.

DRE (CONT’D) Snap time’s over.

EXT. APARTMENT - STREET - MOMENTS LATER

Dre exits the building. As he walks down the street, his phone keeps pinging with happy birthday texts & social media posts.

He crosses the street. Pulls out his phone. Unlocks the door of his 1989 LTD Crown Victoria. Recently rebuilt Ford 302 fuel injected V8. Black with cherry red piping. Sitting on matte black 22s.

INT. HOUSE - DINING ROOM - EVENING

Rachel’s body remains splayed out on top of the table. The killer stands with his back to her. Looking at pictures on the wall. One in particular seems to capture his attention:

CLOSE UP: A nighttime picture of Rachel, Dre and his friends laughing and smiling in front of a pink Escalade.

Rachel’s phone starts VIBRATING on the table, disrupting the killer’s intent gaze. He turns, looks. Sees ANDRE (SON) on the phone screen. A look of recognition flashes in his dark eyes.

INT. CROWN VICTORIA - STREET - EVENING - MOMENTS LATER

Dre hangs up without leaving a message. Drives down a few more blocks. Pulls up to the house, noticing his mom’s SUV in the driveway. Quickly parks out front, jerking the Crown Vic to a stop.

EXT. HOUSE - EVENING - MOMENTS LATER

Gets out of the car. Closes his door as he dials out to his mother again. Walks up to the front of the house. Pulls out his keys. Unlocks the door.

INT. HOUSE - EVENING - MOMENTS LATER

Opens it. Goes inside. Notices all the lights are off.

DRE

Ma? I know you’re here and you know I don’t like surprise parties.

No response. He reaches for the light. Turns it on. TWO more SILENCED SHOTS ring out.

INT. SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH - MIAMI GARDENS, FL - LATE MORNING

A soulful rendition of “His Eye is on the Sparrow” is sung by the church CHOIR as MOURNERS file past Rachel’s casket.

Dre sits in the front pew with his left arm in a sling, wearing a dark grey suit & glasses. His countenance a mask of stone as people file past him offering their condolences.

Next to him are his friends from the picture: DRINO (Cuban/Af-Am, late 20s), ZOEBOY (Haitian, mid 20s), & LALO (Puerto Rican/Cuban, early 20s). All in black suits, devoid of emotion like their deeply aggrieved friend.

As the choir finishes, the FUNERAL DIRECTOR (50s, Af-Am) brings the mourning procession to an end. REV. JAMES ARTHUR WALKER (Af-Am, 40s) steps into the pulpit.

REV. WALKER

I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free. My eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me. Can I get an “Amen”?

A chorus of “Amens” ring throughout the sanctuary. The church is completely packed.

REV. WALKER (CONT’D)

Amen. God watches over every one of us with love in His heart. And in His infinite wisdom & tender mercy, grants to all the years of our lives. To some, He grants long, healthy life. Praise the Lord. To others, like our beloved sister Rachel Johnson, whose life we celebrate today, He gifts what seems like only a brief moment.

He pauses, fraught with emotion. A panoply of loud lamentations are heard throughout the room.

REV. WALKER (CONT’D)

But what’s important is not the length of our years but the fruit & the service of our years. (MORE)

REV. WALKER (CONT’D)

These are what give meaning to our lives and in her 48 years, Rachel Johnson, honored & glorified the Lord. Amen?

Another round of “Amens” echo throughout the church.

REV. WALKER (CONT’D)

She honored and glorified God with the many students she taught and counseled over the years at Miami Carol City High and in our own Shiloh Sunday school.

Many of her current & past STUDENTS in the congregation wipe away tears.

REV. WALKER (CONT’D)

She honored and glorified the Lord with her many hours working in the Shiloh Soup Kitchen and being a dutiful, devoted mother to her beloved son, Andre.

He locks eyes with Dre, whose silent tears fall beneath the dark glasses.

REV. WALKER (CONT’D)

Now we don’t know why God has called our sister home. Why, after defeating the Goliath of breast cancer last year, she was struck down by the dark scourge of violence.

He cuts a look at Drino and the rest of Dre’s boys.

REV. WALKER (CONT’D)